If you wear, clean with damp cloth, and brush regularly, they shouldn't appear this severe. (At least in my experience, which may not mean much)

I think the amount of bloom depends on the way the particular batch of shell was tanned - some of the older exotics are much oilier than others. I know from my own experience that some older Aldens bloom a lot (especially my 8 year old cigar LWB). They have a noticeable bloom after a week and a significant one after a month. But it is nothing that a couple of quick brushes can't fix.

Thanks! Yours are looking great! I don't have the patience to break my shoes in. I take them out of the box, put them on and go about my normal business. Maybe someday I'll try it and see if it makes any difference.

talking of "bloom", having just given my #8's their first brush the penny dropped about an aspect of the mac method that i have not seen explicitly stated.

i am sure it will have been and it is just that i missed it. Nevertheless i think it is worth stating.

Typically for me (luck wise) on the first day of wear the weather god's decided that there would be the lightest of showers (the worst kind of weather for shell perhaps?)

Getting home after a nice 3->4 mile round trip .... I was interested to discover that indeed some water spots/welts had appeared.

Now i am not going to baby these as my preference is for patina over pristine - so there was no panic - but i thought "let's give this mac method a go!"

Quick wipe down with a damp cloth and the vigorous brushing begins ....

- "oh the new shine has dulled quite a bit" ...... brush brush brush

- "well this seems to just be getting worse .....brush brush brush

- "how does mcarthur get that shine?" .....brush brush brush

Then it dawned on my that i had misunderstood.

It isn't the brushing that produces the shine, the brushing brings out the "fats" which then act like a cream when buffed with a dry cloth.

It isn't the brushing that produces the shine, it is the buffing with the cloth.

Disclaimer : I may be very wrong but that was the impression from my lifetime/day one experience of shell cordovan.

Couple of other points

Commando soles / Indy Boots are incredibly comfortable.

I love the look of a mint/unspoiled condition Alden, but there is something I love more about the look of shell Aldens that have only just been broken in and have yet to make their way outside. I think it is because they are brand new / mint condition - but they belong to someone. Or maybe it is just how I feel about mine!

[*] Commando soles / Indy Boots are incredibly comfortable.
[*] I love the look of a mint/unspoiled condition Alden, but there is something I love more about the look of shell Aldens that have only just been broken in and have yet to make their way outside. I think it is because they are brand new / mint condition - but they belong to someone. Or maybe it is just how I feel about mine!
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Outstanding boots dusttruffle! Congrats and enjoy. Wear them in the best of health.